The most promising words ever written on the maps of human knowledge are terra incognita, unknown territory.
Daniel J. BoorstinRead
History had been man's effort to accomodate himself to what he could not do. Amereican history in the 20th century would, more than ever before, test man's ability to accomodate himself to all the new things he could do.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote highlights the challenges humanity faces in adapting to rapid changes and advancements in capabilities over time.
Daniel J. Boorstin's quote reflects the dual nature of history: the struggle to accept limitations and the ongoing test of adapting to newfound possibilities. In the 20th century, the pace of innovation and change presented unprecedented opportunities and challenges for humanity, demanding resilience and adaptability as people confronted what they could achieve.
Themes
HistoryAdaptationInnovationChange20Th Century
In practice
Example use cases
Using this quote in a lecture about the impact of technology on society.
More from Daniel J. Boorstin
All quotes →Freedom means the opportunity to be what we never thought we would be.
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Human models are more vivid and more persuasive than explicit moral commands.
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Knowledge is not simply another commodity. On the contrary. Knowledge is never used up. It increases by diffusion and grows by dispersion.
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We need not be theologians to see that we have shifted responsibility for making the world interesting from God to the newspaperman.
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There was a time when the reader of an unexciting newspaper would remark, 'How dull is the world today!' Nowadays he says, 'What a dull newspaper!'
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